Paperwhites belong to a group of Daffodils that are not hardy for us, but are easily grown in a pot or vase indoors. Their large clusters of pure white flowers arch above graceful, blue-green foliage, and their perfume fills a room with fragrance. Our signature White Flower Farm linen bag filled with 12 'Ziva' bulbs makes a memorable present.

Paperwhites require no preparation and are absolutely foolproof. When bulbs are planted in early December, they will flower in 4-6 weeks with seldom a miss. To make a good thing even better, we select extra-large bulbs of Narcissus 'Ziva', which produce more bloom than you've ever seen on a Paperwhite. If you start your plantings at 2-4 week intervals you can keep the show running all winter. Bulbs may be held for weeks in a warm, dark closet, which allows plenty of flexibility in orchestrating displays for holidays or other special occasions.

The size of the plants we ship has been selected to reduce the shock of transplanting. For some, this means a large, bareroot crown. Others cannot travel bareroot or transplant best if grown in containers. We ship these perennials and annuals in 1 pint pots, except as noted. We must point out that many perennials will not bloom the first year after planting, but will the following year, amply rewarding your patience. We ship bulbs as dormant, bare bulbs, sometimes with some wood shavings or moss. Shrubs, Roses, vines, and other woody plants may be shipped bareroot or in pots. The size of the pot is noted in the quick facts for each item.

WHEN WE SHIP

We ship our bulbs and plants at the right time for planting in your area, except as noted, with orders dispatched on a first-come, first-served basis by climate zone. Estimated dates for shipping are indicated in the Shipping Details box for each item. Please refer to the Shipping Details box to determine the earliest shipping time. Unless you specify otherwise, fertilizers, tools, and other non-plant items are shipped with your plants or bulbs. Please supply a street address for delivery. Kindly contact us with two weeks notice, if you'll be away at expected time of delivery.

OUR GUARANTEE

We guarantee to ship plants that are in prime condition for growing. If your order is damaged or fails to meet your expectations, we will cheerfully replace or refund it. Please contact our Customer Service Department at 1-800-503-9624 or email us at custserv@whiteflowerfarm.com. Please include your order number or customer number when contacting us.

Great Holiday gifts

Susan
from Orange County California

I have forced paperwhites in glass vases for a few years as Christmas gifts. Last year I purchased White Flower bulbs and the fragrance was so much better than the bulbs I purchased in previous years from our local nursery. Also almost all of the bulbs sprouted vs bulbs from the local nursery had a few that never sprouted or went bad before they were forced.

These grow in the wild in Georgia

JeniP
from Macon, GA

These are growing in the wild in Georgia right now. They smell so good! I did not know what they were and found them on here....they would really be worth buying to grow on your own as they are really a pretty flower with a wonderful fragrance!!

Wonderful Bulbs!

Bloom Then Bust

None
from Queens, NY

Bought three bags of paperwhites last year. Came beautifully packaged. Immediately put several bulbs in vases with rocks and water. Stems came out fast and blossoms followed quickly. Gorgeous, so satisfying with so little work! However, I had a problem when the dozen or so I stored for less than a month (in my cool, dark closet)totally failed when I was ready to use them. According the WFF information, it should have been fine to stagger blooms, bulbs should be kept in a cool dry place if not used immediately. WFF personnel were professional and gave me fair credit when I called. Will go again this year but I don't recommend trying to save any bulbs for the actual arrival of spring. Maybe I did something wrong?

Highly recommend the Paperwhites

Illinois Gardener
from Bloomington IL

These paperwhite bulbs were delivered in a nice looking bag. I planted in a shallow bowl with planting mix. They promptly grew into tall white blooms with very nice fragrance. These have lasted several weeks. Very nice addition to the winter window. I highly recommend.

Paperwhites require little more than to be potted and watered to produce clusters of fragrant blooms.

When the bulbs arrive, open the bags immediately to allow air to reach the bulbs. You can either pot the bulbs right away or keep them to grow at a later time. If storing the bulbs, keep them at room temperature in a dark place for up to 4-6 weeks.

If you receive one of our 24-bulb collections, consider potting 6-12 bulbs at 2- to 4-week intervals for a staggered display. Bulbs generally bloom 4-6 weeks after potting.

How to Grow Paperwhites

Paperwhite Narcissus will grow happily and bloom with nothing more than water and stones or pebbles.

Growing Paperwhites in water:

To "plant" your bulbs in any our our soilless kits, begin by carefully placing a layer of stones or pebbles to a depth of about 2" in a small vase or about 4" in a larger vase.

Next place a layer of Paperwhite bulbs close to each other, roots facing down. Put a few stones or pebbles around and between the bulbs to anchor them in the vase. Leave the tops of the bulbs exposed.

Finally, add water until the level reaches just below the base of the bulbs, but no higher (if the bases of the bulbs sit in water, they will rot).

Follow the instructions for "Rooting and care" below.

Growing Paperwhites in soil:

To pot the bulbs from one our kits with potting mix, begin by placing the potting mix in a plastic tub. Slowly add water and stir until the mix is moist but not soggy. Add moistened mix to the accompanying container until it is about 3/4 full.

Set the bulbs, pointed end up, on top of the mix. Space the bulbs very closely; they should almost touch. Then add more mix, covering the bulbs up to their necks and leaving the tips exposed. Water thoroughly.

Follow the instructions for "Rooting and care" below.

Rooting and care

Set your container or vase in a cool (50-60°F is ideal) place away from direct sunlight. Check the bulbs frequently and water thoroughly when the potting mix is dry 1" below the surface (but not more than once a week until the bulbs begin active growth), or when the water level is more than 1" below the stones or glass in your vase.

If your bulbs are in a bowl (a pot without a drainage hole), water with extra care: Bulbs sitting in soggy potting mix soon rot.

Once a week, tug gently on the bulbs to see if they have begun to product roots. When your tug meets with firm resistance (usually about 3 weeks after potting), move the container to a sunny window.

Keep a close eye on watering. Bulbs in active growth can dry out in just a day or two.

When Paperwhites are forced to bloom indoors, they have a tendency to topple when in flower. Hold them upright with the bulb supports supplied with our bulb kits or with bamboo stakes and twine (available at garden centers). If you use our supports, set them in place when the bulb shoots are 8-10" tall by inserting the legs at regular intervals along the inside edge of the container. As the leaves and stems grow, a few will find their way outside the ring. Gently bend them and push them back inside.

After Paperwhites finish blooming, we recommend that you throw the bulbs out or toss them on the compost pile. They won't bloom again indoors.

White Flower Farm is a family-owned mail-order nursery located in northwestern Connecticut. Since 1950 we have been providing a wide range of perennials, annuals, bulbs, shrubs, vines, amaryllis, gardening tools & supplies, and gifts for gardeners. We also offer gardening advice and how-to information to gardeners throughout the United States. We invite you to browse our online catalogs, and to join our email list for special offers and useful gardening tips. White Flower Farm&REG; is a registered trademark of White Flower Farm, Inc. This institution is an equal opportunity provider.